…CEO Chibhi says he does not know the cost of one borehole
Melinda Kusemachibi
Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) is again at the epicenter of a corruption storm after the local authority allegedly drilled four boreholes with one costing between US$ 7 000 – US$ 9 000.
It is reported that the company which drilled the boreholes is Zvishavane-based Pote Drilling Company owned by Antony Clever Pote believed to be a Zanu PF sympathizer.
A source privy to the matter (who spoke on condition of anonymity) said Bikita RDC is suspiciously into an act of corruption judging on the amount charged that is over US$ 7 000.
“Yes l can confirm that Bikita RDC drilled four boreholes one in ward 1 and 2 and also in ward 3 they drilled two boreholes. It is said they drilled one borehole at a cost of US$9 000 which is not equivalent to the commercial cost of one borehole. Most companies charge US$40/m, so we do not know how the RDC got charged such a huge amount on one borehole,” said the source.
Bikita council chairperson Benjamin Masakadze said the RDC drilled boreholes but does not know how much council paid for the boreholes but one individual in the local area said his borehole drilled cost US$ 1 200.
“Council drilled four boreholes in Bikita South in wards 1, 2 and 3. Ward 1 borehole was drilled for the community, ward 2 was drilled for Nejoto Primary School and in ward 3 two boreholes were drilled one for the community and the other one for a Crèche.
“ I do not know how much it cost but what l know from the individual who drilled his borehole here in Bikita it cost US$ 1 200, so l do not know if council used US$ 9 000 to drill one borehole,” said Masakadze.
Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibhi however contradicted himself as he said that eight boreholes were drilled but does not know how much it cost and how many meters were drilled.
“We drilled eight boreholes, one in Maone clinic in ward 22 but l do not remember how much it cost to drill the boreholes and how many meters were drilled,” said Chibhi.
Drilling and installation of ordinary 40 meter boreholes cost an average amount of US$ 1 600 if charged at US 40 per meter and about US$ 45 per meter depending with the company.
A drilling company in Masvingo said they normally charge US$ 40 per meter depending with the area.
“We usually get water after drilling 25 to 35 meters but on rare occasions, we go as deep as 50 meters in search of the precious liquid, and a meter cost between US$ 40 and US$ 45. Installation of everything which includes solar systems cost a total of US$2500,” said one of the employees at the drilling company.
The price of sinking a borehole around a radius of 40 km from Masvingo urban is pegged at US $1200 by some borehole drilling companies.
However a survey carried out by TellZim News at Makanaka Investments (Pote Holdings) revealed that Pote Holdings charge US$ 3600 for surveying and drilling a single borehole and US$ 2700 for drilling only.
At Pote drilling company, only survey and mobilization will be charged on dry holes which include investigations by geological and geophysical method which is US$ 600.
However Pote Holdings also said that if they drill a borehole on wet areas it cost a total of US$2700 and if they attempt to drill a borehole for two times and they do not reach the water table there is no refund but on dry areas which they had surveyed they refund US$2800 from the total cost of US$3600.
Bikita RDC is currently under investigation by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing after the former bought six personal Toyota GD6 vehicles for its Head of Departments.
